JINGLE DANCER
Curriculum Guide:

Supplemental Questions and Links

questions

What is a powwow?

What is a tradition? Do you have traditions in your families? What are
they? (Non-Indian readers: please remember that you may not always know
if a Native child is in your discussion group. Be sensitive to their perspective.
If you do know of one, please don't put her on the spot as a "cultural
expert." Attribution: Oyate.)

Read THE GREAT BALL GAME: A MUSKOGEE STORY retold by Joseph Bruchac and illustrated by Susan L. Roth (Dial, 1994). In JINGLE DANCER, who tells Jenna the Story of Bat? What is the theme of the story? What does Jenna have in common with Bat?

How did Mrs. Scott, Grandma Wolfe, Great-aunt Sis and Cousin Elizabeth
help Jenna make her dress?

How did Jenna show her respect for these women?

Did JINGLE DANCER take place today or a long time ago?

Discuss the meaning of "four" in Native tradition.
(see author's note). In JINGLE DANCER, how is the number four represented?
(Four directions, four women, four rows of jingles, four dancers at the
powwow... can you find more?).

What does regalia mean? Emphasize
that regalia is not a costume. Talk about other people who wear special
clothes on meaningful occasions like priests or brides in their wedding
dresses. Please note that it is disrespectful when non-Indians "dress
up" to "play Indian" or wear fake "Indian-inspired" clothes on Halloween.

Jenna lives in a small town in Oklahoma. Find Oklahoma on a map.

Jenna is a contemporary girl. The homes that she lives in and visits
contain objects that may also be found in the homes of young readers.
What objects in the small-town Oklahoma houses may be found in other children's
homes? (Television, books, chairs, pitcher, sink, carpet, etc.)

Dancing and Powwows: Music, Video, Teaching
Guides, Web Sites

Indian House Records: "Located
in Taos, New Mexico, USA, Indian House is a 30-year old record company specializing
in traditional American Indian music. Featured on our recordings are some
of the most highly-respected Indian musicians in the United States and Canada."
Indian House carries powwow, specifically jingle dance songs, as well as
tapes of Creek songs and more.

Jingle Dancing:
by TPT (related to production of Wacipi powwow documentary). Photo with
one of the traditional stories and discussion of dance style.

Native American Rights Fund: a non-profit
legal organization that represents Indian people. Organization includes
many Native attorneys. It's listed here because in my picture book, Jenna's
cousin Elizabeth (right) is a lawyer.

Fry Bread Recipe:
I recommend serving with honey, the way Jenna likes it. Teachers may want
to make fry bread with their students. Just make sure that the teacher,
like Mrs. Scott, does the actual cooking part so that no one Jenna's age
gets burned during the frying process.

Oyate: a non-profit organization focussed
on children's books related to Native peoples. They evaluate books, conduct
workshops for teachers and librarians, host a resource center and library
of their own, and distribute work that they recommend. Oyate is also one
of the outlets selling copies of JINGLE DANCER.